Flatten image, and save/load selection

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coldpenguin

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After seeing a rant on one section of this forum, which was possibly just a marketing ploy, I did a quick look to see whether any of this person's work was actually possibly of any benefit.
It appeared that they had several 'tutorials' on you-tube for free access to see how they processed images.

Looking through the tutorials, they didn't really seem to really be anything special. They made what appeared to be a 16MP image look good, but at 700pixels height in a video, almost anything can be made to look good.

Anyway, during the 'tutorials' the author appeared to use (or in my opinion) over-use the flatten image function. Almost every step involved creating a new layer, performing a function on the layer, masking it, then flattening.
Now some stages flatten image is necessary (or at least a copy-merged), but is there really any benefit to using flatten image so frequently, apart from possibly keeping the memory usage down?

Also, the author appeared to be using the quick selection tool a lot, performing a mask, doing some simple edits (contrast etc.), then using the quick selection tool again. Is there any reason why save and load selections should not be used for simple modifications, that don't involve 'moving' pixels like liquify?
 
I rarely watch this sort of thing on YouTube since the quality of some of these 'tutorials' is questionable. Someone's workflow might 'work' for them, but we all develop our own. you are probably quite right in doubting the wisdom of repeated flattening. Don't waste your time with these tutorials, I would suggest.
 
I don't like flattening or merging layers unless it is absolultely necessary. I prefer to be able to go back and edit and/or see what I have done for future reference. I do end up with some enormous files with lots of layers (layers I often group into sections as this has the effect of hiding some of them)

This is especially applicable if you are working for a client and you show them/discuss the work as it progresses and they change their mind about a colour, shading or something
 
One of the advantages of using layers is to have the option to re-edit or ajust later in the editing process, once you flatten you loose that option.
Can you post a link to the tut so we can see why the author is using the flatten command, there may be a reason for it.
 
Thanks, these answers kinda back-up what I thought of things.
The original thread with the rant in appears to have been deleted (not just locked), I didn't think that happened much on this forum. I can't really post a link to the tutorial without showing who made it.

The techniques used in the video were contrasts, brightness and high-pass filter etc. that [in my opinion] should have been done using adjustment layers and masks.
Instead the author was copying and pasting the background layer, and modifying the data, then flattening.
As far as I am concerned the only type of editing which was really only needing any flattening was liquify. Part of me thinks that liquify should possibly be done sooner rather than later in the workflow.
 
Ahh I know the thread you mean, I wondered what happened to it as well.
I argree I'd use the liquify tool at an early stage too, I'd want to be pushing the original pixels around as much as possible before altering them to much.
 
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